Today I’ve been out shopping  with my teenage daughter, getting some winter essentials that were on sale here locally. Its always great to get items that you had previously admired for  half the price. With sales its always a bargain….or is it?…only  if it is an item you are needing!

Are you an impulse buyer when the sales are on or do you only buy what is in your shopping plan?

I mean just think about how many pairs of jeans we need, or how many white shirts is enough?

Before each season starts I suggest you  invest some time in making a “shopping list” of  your must need items & a reminder of what not to buy more of!

If you are the grocery buyer for your household, I want you to think about when you do your weekly/fortnightly shop. Do you make a list of what is needed prior to going or do you go along & try & remember what was needed?  I imagine the times you go with a list that you probably spend less then if you went without one. Also we are ususally so much more tempted to buy the “specials”, because they seem to be such a good deal. Then we find we come home with something we already have in the pantry, something that we might have 3 or 4 of, sound familiar? Its the same with our clothes shopping, but of course the investment is greater.

So how dow we make a clothes shopping list?

Let’s begin by having a look at your wardrobe & categorizing your clothes into these groups.(there may be other groups that suit you more)

Clothes to wear to work

Clothes to wear at home -comfortable

Socializing/evening clothes

Smart daytime clothes

Once you have sorted your clothes into these groups, put all your skirts, trousers,jackets, tops & dresses together in colours from white to black via the rainbow.  Now you will be able to see how much you have of any particular item for the different lifestyle needs you have.

Do you see any gaps for tops or skirts or accessories, if so write these down on your shopping list be specific, include the colour needed to work in with your current clothes.

Do you see 10 white shirts or 10 black pants? If so, do you wear them all?, if not keep the best styles that suit you & the category they are in & get rid of the rest.

Next work out your budget for what you want to spend, remember depending on your income & job, its advisable to spend around 5-10% or your income of your annual salary on your clothes. Write down an estimate of what you think the needed items will cost on your shopping list.Don’t forget to prioritise your list for what is most needed first.

The higher up the corporate ladder, the more important our clothes become. If sorting out your wardrobe seems to much of a daunting job, then consider having a wardrobe edit where we will come & sort it all for you, so you will be ready to head to the shops with purpose!

Clothes that are the staples of your wardrobe such as coats,suits,or shoes  in your best neutrals for work are investment pieces so spend accordingly by buying as much quality as you can afford, as the better fabrics will look nicer for longer & are worth spending more on.

So what are you waiting for, now you have your list, you just need to refer to it each time you hit the shops, & you’ll come home feeling great knowing you have bought to really build a wardrobe full of clothes that your can wear!  Or you can take the pain out of your next shopping trip by having your own personal shopper guide you.

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